Adrien Leroy

He was filled with an insane longing to seize her in his arms, and cover

her face with kisses; but he restrained himself, though he bent nearer

to her as he said in a low voice: "Yes, I am going back to try and put my affairs in better order. My

father has been pulling me up--quite rightly, of course. I ought to have

seen to these things before. I am afraid I have not been a good son to

him."

"You do not see him very often, do you?" said Lady Constance, who knew

to a day how often Adrien had visited the Castle during the last twelve

months, during which she herself had sighed for his absence.

"No," he admitted. "I always seem to have so many engagements; but now I

am going to try a new mode of life--thanks to your words."

"My words?" echoed Lady Constance, in genuine surprise. "I thought you

said uncle had been speaking to you."

"Yes," he agreed. "But it was what you said to me during our ride that

decided me really--about the tenants, and all that."

"You must not listen to all my complaints," she said, smilingly. "I am

proud of the Barminster estates, naturally; and I cannot bear that they

should be inferior to those of our neighbour----"

"Who is that?" he inquired quickly.

"Why, Lord Standon, of course," was the calm reply.

He started at the sound of the name of one he deemed his rival. The

jealous blood rushed to his face and his heart beat fast.

"Naturally," he said, in tones as quiet as he could make them, "you

would compare all estates with his--now!"

With womanly intuition she saw his meaning, but did not choose to dispel

his suspicions just then. Not that she was a coquette or flirt, for she

loved this man with all the strength of her being; but, on the other

hand, she knew, or thought she knew, his disposition only too well, and

she feared to yield to her natural inclinations, which were to allow him

to see that he had only to speak, and she was ready and willing to

listen. Instead, therefore, she merely said lightly: "Yes, he makes a good landlord, for all he declares to the contrary.

Then, too, he has a capable agent."

"Like Jasper," put in her companion, trying to keep his eyes away from

her pretty, vivacious face.

Lady Constance was silent. However much she might dislike and distrust

Vermont, she never expressed her opinion of him to Adrien. She therefore

turned the subject quickly by inquiring after the next race.